With his firstborn back from US, Bobby Deol is spending lockdown working out with both sons, nephews and Sunny
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 5, 2020)

It’s day 42 of the Coronavirus-induced lockdown, but for a self-confessed homebody Bobby Deol, who admits to have not stepped out of home since March 11, it’s like any other day. He has been tinkering with a camera, shooting 15-year-old son Dharam in their garden for the past one hour, before coming on the line. “I have washed my hands too,” the actor chuckles as a way of greeting, adding that his sons, who had to be reprimanded earlier to clean up and change after returning from school, have now reversed roles and don’t let him off the hook even if he had only gone downstairs.

At the beginning of the year, Bobby was in the US, bringing in his 51st birthday with son Aryaman, who studies there. “Luckily, Aryaman came home a day before Holi without hassles or travel restrictions,” the relieved father relays.

If he wasn’t confined indoors, along with the rest of the country, Bobby would have been in the Maldives right now, ringing in friend Dharmil’s 50th birthday, with buddies flying in from around the world. “Last year, my friend weighed 100 kgs and had vowed to lose weight. We were very excited to celebrate his 20-kg weight loss on this milestone birthday, but it was not to be,” rues the actor, who’s now competing with his buddy over miles clocked on the treadmill. “We keep comparing our steps and the time taken. It keeps us motivated.”

Bobby, who has an in-house gym, finds himself working out with brother Sunny, nephews Karan and Rajvir, and sons Aryaman and Dharam. While his trainer conducts online sessions, it is his younger son who poses difficult challenges. “Dharam is completely into fitness. He learns new techniques online and teaches me. I wish I had the access he does at his age. He has a six-pack already and keeps challenging Tanya and me to try new things. I have to tell him I’m not that flexible anymore,” he laughs.

A passion for the camera and ripped abs… is Deol Jr readying for showbiz? “There’s no business like show business,” Bobby quips, quick to add that while both his sons are interested in films, they are level-headed and want to complete graduation before venturing into the industry. “They are attending online classes conducted by their college and school respectively. My elder one has been submitting study papers ever since he returned. He has to stay up all night for lectures,” informs the dad.

The actor, who lives in a joint family, insists he is blessed to have a roof over his head and access to internet. “The street near my house is covered with yellow flowers. We have lots of trees in our compound where rare birds gather. There’s incessant twitter all day. I get calls from Punjab informing me that mountain ranges are visible from our village. We can’t step out to enjoy the sights but it’s good to know that nature is rejuvenating itself,” he asserts.

He is spending time with his staff too. “One of them has an ailing father back home who had to be hospitalised following a heart condition. He wanted to visit home but understands that right now that might do more harm than good,” Bobby points out, adding that once a week, they send one of the staff members in protective gear to fetch essentials. “I’m missing the milk and vegetables from our farm though,” he sighs.

Speaking of the farm, Bobby’s actor-father Dharmendra has been posting pictures with fresh produce. “His friends had to stop visiting him in the evenings because of social distancing and he was getting bored. Papa had gone to the farmhouse with my mother and aunt two days before the lockdown, then, everything shut down,” he informs. However, with a loyal staff, the veteran actor is taken care of. “We chat every day. Today, he was telling me that he feels like he has never lived in a city. I’m glad he’s away as the fear of contamination is less.”

For now, Bobby’s days don’t look different from each other. Never one to frequent restaurants or theatres, he is happy to lead the simple life. “I love dal-chawal and have discovered a new love for cabbage. Tanya asks me what I’ll have for lunch, I tell her to make patta gobi and repeat it for dinner,” he shares.

Only his sleep pattern has changed because he has lost track of time. “Before you know it, it’s 2 am and time to doze off,” he muses. Tired of watching online content, he often plugs in his earphones for some musical respite. “I’m also thinking of going back to reading. Dad told me it helps you sleep well and I can vouch for it,” he acknowledges.

Ask him if he’s picked up a hobby too, like most of his peers, and he is dismissive. “I don’t need a hobby. I watch a lot of cooking videos but all I make is coffee, mostly a decaf version for my son. Not Dalgona, which is just our phenti hui coffee,” he guffaws, admitting that he has his lows too, when he feels guilty about staying home, but his wife keeps spirits high. But as soon as things go back to normal, he promises to begin work on a film. There’s another show and a film, in the post-production stage, waiting to be released. “But for now, like everyone else, I wait,” he signs off with a smile.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 4, 2020)

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, we have seen several celebrities come forward to boost everyone’s morale. The latest to join the list is Bobby Deol. The actor has recited a poem in a special video, which is a tribute to the warriors of Coronavirus. The two-minute piece, titled Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai Yaron, has been conceptualized and written by Sanjay Masoomm. The video releases today.

Bobby told us, “I have known Sanjay for many years and when he came to me with this poem, I was taken in by the simplicity with which he expressed gratitude towards our police force, healthcare workers and others, who are working tirelessly to protect us from the deadly virus. Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai Yaron talks about the indomitable human spirit and unity, which binds Indians together. The message it was trying to convey encouraged me to recite a poem on camera for the first time in my life.”

While Bobby faced the camera, his younger son, Dharam, turned cinematographer. The actor shares, “Dharam is fond of cameras. Once, when he had accompanied me to the sets of a film, I spotted him having a long chat with the cinematographer. Later, he told me that he wanted to be a photographer. So, I bought him a camera. Dharam took this as an opportunity and we shot it over two hours. Of course, we did have our share of creative differences (laughs!).”

It’s a known fact that Bobby’s father, legendary actor Dharmendra, has a skill for writing poetry. “My dad has penned lovely poems, and he uses beautiful Urdu words. However, I haven’t inherited that talent from him,” says the actor.

BOMBAY TIMES (February 16, 2019)

At 50, Bobby Deol is looking his dashing best and fitter than ever. And most of all, with recharged batteries, he’s now set on full-power mode. Leaving behind his laid-back attitude, today, the actor is greedy for roles, has a new sense of ambition and is ready to give what it takes to be an integral part the show business. In a chat with BT, he talks about how the definition of stardom has changed over the years, what keeps him grounded and his faith in commercial cinema. Excerpts...

Since your first outing (Barsaat, 1995), the industry has undergone a lot of change. Looking back, do you think that you have managed to keep up with the times? Also, how do you think the definition of stardom has changed over the years? Not only have you experienced it personally, you have also seen your father and brother at the height their popularity...
I have to admit that I had slowed down and wasn’t moving with the times. As an actor, you have to go out there and tell people that look, I am here. As far as stardom is concerned, its definition has undergone a lot of changes. Today, there is no excitement when you spot an actor. Earlier, actors were not spotted so easily, they were far more exclusive. There was an aura around them, which has diminished. The crowd that would gather to spot my father or the actors of his generation were huge. In that sense, today, stardom is viewed differently.

After a long break, you have had multiple releases in the last two years — Poster Boys, Race 3 and Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se. How do you think these films have propelled your career? Were you happy with the way these outings turned out?
It’s your attitude that takes you far in life. These films have helped me establish the fact that I am here, raring to go. You can’t predict how a film will fare at the box office. Race 3 has given me a big boost. I was noticed for the fact that I looked fit and had a great body to boot. I am grateful to Salman Khan for that film.

Recently, you celebrated your 50th birthday. As an actor, who has been a part of showbiz for close to 24 years, does the pressure of looking a certain way lessen with age?
If you are not healthy, it comes in the way of your achievements. For the past two years, I have been focussing on fitness. Every day is better because you feel more energetic. Today, I feel I can accomplish more than what I did 10 years ago, because I am fitter. There are many actors in our industry who are not fit, but they are successful. If they become fitter, they will only feel better about themselves. Talking about myself, what attracted people to me was the way I looked and my personality. But I never realised that and lost four years of my life doing nothing. My dad (Dharmendra) and my brother (Sunny Deol) have also gone through ups and downs, but they never gave up. My dad, who is 83, just shot for a film. I, too, want to act till my last breath. To answer your question on the pressures of looking good, as an actor, you stop thinking about how good you look on screen and start concentrating on looking like the character.

While you say that the focus in on looking like the character, the industry is often accused of being youth obsessed. Do you think that’s a fair assessment?
The industry is made to look as if it is youth-obsessed. There are many films that don’t necessarily talk about the youth, but have been successful. In recent times, content-driven films have worked at the box office. Having said that, had these films featured bigger actors, the audience would have expected much more from them.

On that note, do you think that commercial cinema is now going through reinvention?
Sometime back, our cinema had lost depth, but it’s finding new ground now. However, commercial cinema will not change. Some of the biggest blockbusters don’t make sense, but they are successful. What is show business, it’s about entertaining people. Also, in my opinion, any successful film is a commercial film.

You have comfortably slipped into the role of an anti-hero in the past. Is there any role that you wouldn’t play today?
I might not do a particular role if I don’t like the way it is written. For an actor, it’s all about the excitement of playing the character. An actor doesn’t think how the role will influence people. When I am part of a film, I want people to enjoy seeing me and not start thinking as to why I chose to play a certain character. Movie business is not about educating people, it’s about entertainment. In Hollywood, films are not made to please anyone, they make a film when they believe in a subject. But in India, people get influenced easily. So, films have to be made keeping the Indian audience in mind. That is why it is difficult to choose characters that one wants to play. Having said that, I am glad that I work in Indian cinema because our films are very entertaining.

There is a perception about you that you are very laid-back...
I don’t know how to make people believe otherwise. I can’t be on a film set and act enthusiastic all the time. I am an actor and I need to conserve and preserve my energy to deliver in front of the camera (laughs!). In the past, I might have been laid-back, because I was not competitive. I believed that everybody has their own space. I didn’t give it my all and that might have led to things being taken away from me. But today, I am raring to go. Sometimes though, I wonder how much you can talk about yourself. But that’s the way things are. Today, I am trying to do everything that an actor is expected to do, and I have started enjoying it.

Being from a film family, you were raised in a protective environment. Are you as protective about your sons (Aryaman and Dharam)?
Yes, I was brought up in a very protected environment. And I feel that went against me because I didn’t have to face difficulties. I don’t want that for my kids as it’s important for them to develop faith in themselves and fight their own battles. However, sometimes, I do become overprotective.

Will they, too, enter showbiz?
There is no business like show business. I know that my kids want to be actors, but I keep telling them that being an actor is like gambling. They have to be educated before choosing their own path.

Even with all the fame and adulation, after all these years, you continue to be grounded. How have you managed to achieve that?
That’s thanks to my upbringing. Growing up, I have seen my father surrounded by some people, who would chadhao him. He would give everyone a chance to be with him, though he knew exactly who was what. That’s why it’s easier for me to be grounded and not let the fame, adulation and stardom get to my head.

Bobby Deol has just turned 48 and he tells us about how he’s moving with the times
Upala KBR (DNA; January 28, 2017)

Bobby Deol has turned over a new leaf. He insists his reclusiveness is a thing of the past. The actor, who turned 48 yesterday, now sports a new lean and mean avatar. He spoke to us about turning producer with Poster Boys with his older brother Sunny.

You turned 48 yesterday, but many thought it was your 50th birthday...
I turned 48, yes, not 50 (laughs). I have never hidden my age because it has never bothered me. Why make myself younger? My mother wanted to name me after astronaut Neil Armstrong who had just landed when I was born, but my aunt named me Vijay Singh Deol. I celebrated my birthday at our farmhouse in Lonavala. There was a huge family get-together with some of my closest friends and their families. When I was younger, I wanted to celebrate my birthday on January 26 (laughs), as it was a holiday in India. I cut two-three cakes which my friends got.

Aren’t you on a diet?
No. I can’t diet and starve myself. I have just been taking care of myself, working out, and eating the right kind of food. When I didn’t, I had fallen ill and didn’t look so great. But now I am changing my way of looking at things. Everything slowed down in my life for the last couple of years. I didn’t realise time was passing me by. I am a little old-fashioned, but times have changed now and I am just trying to move with it. I feel there is so much in me to give.

Why were you so elusive?
I am going to change all that now. In between, people started carrying false news about me and maligning me. On the Internet, I would read that I was lazy and people stopped approaching me for their films. I just could not understand any of this. I have never cancelled my shooting, and none of my films got delayed. I have always been professional. I just got disheartened after reading all that negative stuff. People started believing in it and that I was really like this. I want to change their outlook. I am now meeting people and telling them I want to do good characters. Nice and meaty roles in all genres.

You have turned producer, independent of your family banner. Comment.
Yes, Sohail (Maklai) and I are working towards something. It’s tentatively called Changez, but the script keeps changing. Sohail and I are working together after a long time. The film is a little dark for me to produce right now, but I would love to produce family entertainers and I am working on it.

Why aren’t you on social media?
People keep asking me where have I disappeared and I realise how much my fans love me. I am trying really hard to be there. I am a bit wary about social media, especially Twitter. There are many Bobbys on it and most write rubbish impersonating me. I want people to know that I am not one of those. Only if my name comes with the blue tick, it’s me. They use my name for wrong things. I think I will enjoy that as I am always taking photos. I need to be on social media as that’s the only way to be with the new generation. So, I have started with Instagram. But I can’t wish people or pass comments on issues. I can’t be fake. That’s just how I am.

Any birthday wish?
I hope this year I get very busy with work. That’s all I am looking forward to. I think I still have many years left in me. When you go through a low phase, you either get destructive or fight all that negativity with positivity. I spent time with my two sons — Aryaman who’s turned 15 and Dharam who is 12. It’s only with time that you realise how they have grown up. I used this time to work on myself and trying to figure out why work had slowed down. While I have not signed anything except Poster Boys, I won’t give up.

What’s with the new look?
It’s my look for my character in Poshter Boyz with Sunny bhaiyya. I play a small-town school teacher who is totally henpecked by his wife. In real life that’s not the case (laughs). It’s a cute, funny entertainer with a little message and emotions in it. It’s about three men whose lives turn upside down when their pics come on a poster by mistake. It has been great working with bhaiyya as we both know each other inside out. As my elder brother, he gives me suggestions and amazing advice. It was my director Shreyas’s (Talpade) birthday too, but he couldn’t join us in Lonavala as he was busy editing.